Privacy Policy
1. Introduction and company information
This Privacy Policy explains how Northwave Audio Atelier collects, uses, discloses, stores, and protects personal information in the course of operating an audio-studio business in Canada. It applies to personal information collected through our website, by email, by telephone, in person, during bookings, consultations, studio sessions, payment processing, and any other interaction with us.
Northwave Audio Atelier is the organization responsible for the collection and use of personal information described in this Privacy Policy.
Northwave Audio Atelier
2148 Granville Street
Vancouver, BC V6H 3G5
Canada
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +1 (604) 782-9461
We are committed to protecting personal information in accordance with applicable Canadian privacy laws, including the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and applicable provincial privacy laws where relevant.
2. Data collection and processing
We may collect personal information directly from you, automatically through our website and digital tools, or from third parties where permitted by law. Depending on your relationship with us, the information we collect may include:
- Contact details such as name, email address, phone number, billing address, and mailing address;
- Booking and service information such as session dates, project details, preferences, and communication history;
- Payment and transaction information, including payment status and invoicing details;
- Technical information such as IP address, browser type, device identifiers, and website usage data;
- Audio, video, image, or other content you provide to us for recording, mixing, mastering, editing, consultation, or related studio services;
- Any other information you choose to provide when contacting us or using our services.
We may process personal information by collecting, recording, organizing, storing, retrieving, using, disclosing, and deleting it as necessary for the purposes described in this Policy.
3. Purpose of data processing
We use personal information for the following purposes:
- To provide audio-studio services, including bookings, consultations, recording, editing, mixing, mastering, and project delivery;
- To communicate with you about inquiries, appointments, service updates, invoices, and customer support;
- To manage client relationships, contracts, and service administration;
- To process payments, issue receipts, and maintain accounting and tax records;
- To improve our website, services, workflows, and customer experience;
- To maintain security, prevent fraud, and protect our business, clients, and systems;
- To comply with legal, regulatory, and professional obligations;
- To send marketing communications where permitted by law and, where required, with your consent;
- To preserve project files and related records for continuity, quality control, and client support.
4. Legal basis for processing
We process personal information only where permitted by applicable law. Depending on the circumstances, our legal basis for processing may include:
- Consent: where you have given us clear consent to collect, use, or disclose your information for a specific purpose;
- Contractual necessity: where processing is necessary to provide requested services, manage bookings, or fulfill our obligations to you;
- Legal obligation: where processing is required to comply with applicable laws, regulations, court orders, or lawful requests;
- Legitimate business purposes: where processing is reasonable and appropriate for operating, securing, and improving our business, and where such interests are not overridden by your rights and interests;
- Other lawful grounds: as otherwise permitted or required under Canadian privacy laws.
Where consent is required, you may withdraw it at any time subject to legal or contractual restrictions and reasonable notice.
5. Data sharing and third parties
We do not sell personal information. We may share personal information with third parties only where necessary and appropriate for the purposes described in this Policy, including:
- Payment processors, invoicing providers, and financial institutions;
- Website hosting, cloud storage, email, scheduling, and customer relationship management providers;
- Professional advisers such as accountants, lawyers, insurers, and auditors;
- Service providers assisting with IT support, security, analytics, or communications;
- Government authorities, regulators, law enforcement, or other parties where required by law or to protect legal rights;
- Collaborators or subcontractors involved in delivering a specific project, where necessary and subject to appropriate confidentiality obligations.
We require third parties that process personal information on our behalf to protect it and use it only for authorized purposes.
6. Data transfer to third countries
Some of our service providers may store or process personal information outside Canada, including in other provinces, the United States, or other foreign jurisdictions. As a result, your information may be subject to the laws of those jurisdictions and may be accessible to courts, law enforcement, or regulatory authorities there.
Where personal information is transferred outside Canada, we take reasonable steps to ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place, including contractual protections, security measures, and vendor due diligence, as appropriate to the sensitivity of the information.
7. Storage duration
We retain personal information only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, to provide services, to comply with legal obligations, to resolve disputes, and to enforce agreements.
Retention periods vary depending on the type of information and the purpose for which it is used. For example:
- Client and booking records may be retained for the duration of the business relationship and for a reasonable period afterward;
- Financial and tax records are retained for the period required by applicable law;
- Project files and audio assets may be retained for a limited period unless otherwise agreed or required for ongoing service support;
- Information no longer required is securely deleted, destroyed, or anonymized.
8. User rights
Subject to applicable law, you may have the following rights regarding your personal information:
- Access: to request confirmation of whether we hold personal information about you and to obtain a copy of that information;
- Rectification: to request correction of inaccurate, incomplete, or outdated information;
- Erasure: to request deletion of personal information in certain circumstances, subject to legal retention requirements and other exceptions;
- Restriction: to request that we limit the processing of your personal information in certain circumstances;
- Data portability: to request a copy of certain information in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format where applicable;
- Objection: to object to certain processing activities, including some forms of direct marketing where applicable.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details provided below. We may need to verify your identity before responding to your request. We will respond within the time required by applicable law or, if no specific period applies, within a reasonable time.
9. Withdrawal of consent
Where we rely on your consent to process personal information, you may withdraw that consent at any time by contacting us. Withdrawal of consent does not affect the lawfulness of processing carried out before the withdrawal.
Please note that withdrawing consent may limit our ability to provide certain services, respond to requests, or maintain project continuity where the information is necessary for those purposes.
10. Right to complain
If you have concerns about how we handle your personal information, we encourage you to contact us first so we can try to resolve the issue promptly.
You may also have the right to file a complaint with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada or, where applicable, a provincial privacy regulator. We will cooperate with any lawful investigation or complaint process.
11. Data security
We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect personal information against loss, theft, unauthorized access, disclosure, copying, use, or modification. These measures may include:
- Access controls and role-based permissions;
- Secure storage and password protection;
- Encryption or other protective measures where appropriate;
- Staff and contractor confidentiality obligations;
- Regular review of systems and security practices;
- Backup and recovery procedures.
However, no method of transmission or storage is completely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security, but we take appropriate steps to reduce risk and respond to incidents in accordance with applicable law.
12. Contact information
If you have questions, requests, or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our handling of personal information, please contact:
Northwave Audio Atelier
2148 Granville Street
Vancouver, BC V6H 3G5
Canada
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +1 (604) 782-9461
13. Changes to privacy policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or operational needs. When we make changes, we will revise the effective date or otherwise indicate that the Policy has been updated.
We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically. Your continued use of our services or website after any update constitutes your acknowledgment of the revised Policy to the extent permitted by law.